SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, September 9, 2003; 10:20 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Ann Scholler, Bob Peterson, Doug Grindall, Tom Weegar, Ed Oerichbauer, Murial Severt, Doug Skrief, Brandon Kohlts; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Jen O’Reily

2003/09-13 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/09-14 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes of the September 2, 2003 regular meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/09-15 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson approving a contract with Walker, Giroux, Hahne, LTD for consulting on GASB 34 accounting requirements for Koochiching County as recommended by the Assistant Auditor and Coordinator with services to begin upon approval. Motion further approves a transfer of $2,000 from the 2003 Administration Project Budget to the 2003 Audit Service Budget to cover service expenditures for 2003, with remaining cost to be budgeted for 2004. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/09-16 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve the following 2004 tax levies for the following approved taxing districts: Fire District 1 (Northome) levy of $8,560, Fire District 2 (Littlefork) levy of $35,025, Fire District 2 (Loman) levy of $8,200, Fire District 3 (Birchdale) levy of $6,000, Fire District 4 (Williams) levy of $2,200, and Fire District 5 (Big Falls) levy of $15,000, Littlefork Ambulance Subordinate District levy of $19,950, Northome First Responders Subordinate District levy of $5,834, and Rainy River First Responders Subordinate District levy of $8,000. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/09-17 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee authorizing the Highway Engineer to seek quotes for auctioneer service to sell surplus County vehicles and equipment. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: Hanson. Motion carried.

000 The Coordinator reviewed the 2004 Budget worksheet showing 2004 funding requests against anticipated revenues and other funding sources. Without cuts and using reserves as a funding source for the budget, there is a $1.1 million deficit. The Coordinator reviewed information pertinent to setting the 2004 levy and recommended the Board consider an increase over last year’s levy.

2003/09-18 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee approving the proposed 2004 County gross levy at $3,249,327 (increase over last year of $106,000). The 2004 proposed levy breakdown is as follows: General Revenue - $1,199,327; Community Service - $1,200,000; Public Health - $100,000; Highway - $500,000; Environmental Services - $150,000; Regional Corrections - $100,000. Further that the proposed 2004 County Levy qualifies for exemption from the Truth in Taxation Public Hearing Requirement and it is the decision of the County Board to accept this exemption and not hold the public hearing. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:05 a.m. Rainy River Community College Provost Tom Weegar approached the Board with information on the third ManOMin International Conference being held this year at Rainy River Community College. The Conference is meant to promote understanding and cooperation on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border on issues pertaining to the Manitoba, Ontario and Minnesota water basins. In addition to requesting the County’s participation and attendance, he asked the Board to consider a funding contribution with no set amount requested. Board members stated that the County participated in and contributed to the event in the past and would support the conference again this year. The Board agreed to defer the funding request to the next Koochiching Development Authority meeting. No other public comment was presented.

000 The Heritage Committee provided designs for the veteran memorial plaques for the County’s memorial. The long-range plan, which was shown, is to establish a wall memorial on the front lawn of the Courthouse where these plaques would be set. However, due to financial constraints, the plaques will temporarily be set in a wooden mount in the rotunda area on second floor. The temporary structure will be about nine feet tall and seven feet square. Location was chosen as the structure can be seen when walking in the front door of the courthouse as well as from the third floor through the rotunda. The Board agreed to the location contingent on discussion with court personnel housed on second floor.

000 Brandon Kohlts, representing ARDC, provided an outline on the plan requirements in order for the County to be eligible for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Funding. The funding is separate from FEMA money received during emergency events. The objective of this funding is to repair or replace infrastructure to prevent future damage as a result of any natural disasters and that this compliance document (or plan) has to be done in order to be eligible for the funds. ARDC is producing this plan for their member counties (and with the assistance of the County’s Sheriff and emergency manager) under a federal grant, which is subject to a 25% local cash and in-kind match. For Koochiching County, the local match is $6,500 in-kind services and $1,000 in cash payment. The Board questioned the amount of hazard mitigation funds available from FEMA and what terms the County would be obligated to if they accepted this funding. In addition, the Board requested a list of what the funds can be expended for. Though the cost to become eligible is minimal, the Board needed more information on the reality and accessibility of the funding before establishing a plan for the sole purpose of becoming funding compliant. It was agreed ARDC would obtain more information on the Hazard Mitigation Funding Program for Board review at the next County Board meeting.

2003/09-19 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 2:37 p.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.